The Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBTRUST) is seeking proposals for its Environmental Education Grant Program that is designed to support the advancement of environmental literacy ensuring every student in Maryland graduates with the knowledge, skills, and appreciation for nature to take responsible actions to protect and restore their local environment.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is a nonprofit, grant-making organization dedicated to improving the bays, streams, rivers, forests, parks, and other natural resources of local systems, from the Chesapeake to the Coastal Bays to the Youghiogheny River.

The Trust is committed to the advancement of diversity and inclusion in its award-making and environmental work. As a result, the Trust strongly encourages applications directly from underrepresented groups, and for projects that increase awareness and participation of communities that are traditionally underrepresented, such as communities of color.

Funding Information

The Trust has made available $300,000 in FY21 for the Environmental Education Grant Program.

Project Types

• Track 1. Single Year Requests. There are three types of single year proposals:
  • Environmental Literacy (up to $40,000),
  • Environmental Literacy Planning (up to $40,000),
  • Outdoor Classrooms (up to $20,000).
• Track 2. Multi-Year Requests: Proposals for up to $40,000 per year for up to three years for projects that focus on the establishment or enhancement of systemic and sustainable MWEEs that are integrated into a school district’s curriculum.

Eligibility Criteria

The Trust welcome requests from the following organizations:

• Public and Independent Higher Educational Institutions
• 501(c)3 Private Nonprofit Organizations
• Municipal, County, Regional, State, Federal Public Agencies
• Community Associations
• Service, Youth, and Civic Groups
• Soil/Water Conservation Districts & Resource Conservation and Development Councils
• Faith-based Organizations
• If the organization category is not listed above, contact the Trust to verify eligibility prior to submitting the application.
• Applications submitted from organizations outside of these categories may not be eligible for funding.

For more information, visit CBTRUST.